The technical group is working towards the preliminary analysis to identify the suitable and shared criteria for the insertion of the historical, cultural and environmental heritage along the Italian tract of the Via Francigena in the UNESCO Candidacy list.

In 2010 the Province of Siena found itself promoter of the candidacy of the Via Francigena as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Coordination Group was established, in accordance with MIBACT.  The work was suspended in 2011 and later relaunched.  

On the 12th June 2015 in Fidenza, municipalities and regions of the Italian tract, called together by the mayors of Fidenza and Monteriggione and by the European Association of the Vie Francigena, meet to promote the launch of the candidacy.  

On the 28th April 2016 at the municipal headquarters of Fidenza, the Coordination Group composed of the MIBACT representatives was set up, of the regions of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Lazio, the province of Parma and Siena, the municipalities of Fidenza, Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, Radicofani, Montefiascone, and the society of “San Quirico d’Orcia” and the European Association of the Vie Francigene.

On the 4th March 2017 in San Miniato, the representatives of the seven Italian regions of the Via Francigena, recognised European cultural route (Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, Tuscany, Lazio), sign the memorandum of understanding to start the preliminary analysis that identifies the suitable and shared criteria for the insertion of the historical, cultural and environmental heritage in the candidacy list. 

On the 24th July 2017 the region of Tuscany, as leading proponent, tasks the EAVF with the coordination of the works, taking advantage of the consultation of prof. Paolo Falini, expert and professor at the University of Rome, to be finished by March 2018.  

A specific technical-scientific activity finalised with the insertion (July 2018) of the Italian tract of the Via Francigena in the so-called Tentative List UNESCO at MIBACT is therefore under way.  That’s all.  In addition to this, the current phase of preliminary analysis does not permit any other assessment of time nor of cost of the final outcome of the candidacy and least of all of the insertion of individual elements of historical, architectural or environmental value that, from time to time, causes the political and local media discussions of the project to overturn.  

Massimo Tedeschi

31st August 2017